Bathing accessory for the back

ABSTRACT

A bathing accessory made of sponge, plastic and bristles is provided with handles and a soap compartment. Held across the back by the two handles, the narrower central portion applies the soap while outer enlarged areas are used to bathe and massage the shoulder areas.

United States Patent [191 Scott Jan. 14, 1975 BATHING ACCESSORY FOR THE BACK Inventor: Elizabeth Scott, 1972 E. 73rd Pl.,

N0. 120, Chicago, 111. 60649 Filed: Jan. 19, 1973 Appl. No.: 325,192

U.S. Cl 401/8, 15/114, 15/222, 401/24, 401/201 Int. Cl A47k 7/03 Field of Search 15/104.94, 222, 114; 128/63, 65, 461, 478, 513; 401/6-8, 201; 4/158, 184

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1920 Shont 401/8 5/1929 McKeag 15/222 12/1929 Theodoropulos 15/222 3/1936 Schaeffer 401/201 4/1939 Booharin 128/63 2,624,881 1/1953 Lee 128/513 2,757,399 8/1956 Garzelloni 3,130,441 4/1964 Hahn 401/201 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 736,642 6/1966 Canada 15/114 727,017 5/1932 France... 15/222 862,511 12/1940 France 401/201 1,230,364 4/1971 Great Britain 128/63 Primary ExaminerDaniel Blum Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hibben, Noyes & Bicknell [57] ABSTRACT A bathing accessory made of sponge, plastic and bristles is provided with handles and a soap compartment. Held across the back by the two handles, the narrower central portion applies the soap while outer enlarged areas are used to bathe and massage the shoulder areas.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures BATHING ACCESSORY FOR THE BACK This invention applies to bathing accessories and more particularly to accessories for helping bathe those areas on the back that are inaccessible by hand.

A principal object of this invention is to provide two pieces of material, one of sponge and the other of plastic having a central narrower area with a pocket and a plastic zipper for holding a cake of soap and outer wide areas provided with handles. The peripheries of both sponge and plastic are joined except at the zipper area. In the zipper or soap area the plastic is perforated. The whole plastic surface is covered with an alternating pattern of bristles and perforations.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bathing appliance which is particularly shaped for reaching hardto-bathe areas by giving it a distinct contour to the outer wide portion of the appliance.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an appliance for bathing and massaging the back and lower spine areas in which one side is used for applying soap and the other side is used for massage.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a bathing accessory that fulfills its purposes with a construction that is rugged for long use, yet simple in construction for an attractive market price.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification together with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a back scrubbing device embodying the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a staggered sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the soap chamber of the device.

Referring to the figures there is seen a back-bathing accessory 10, according to the invention, comprising generally two superposed pieces, of flexible material 11 and 12, the piece 11 being of sponge fabric and the matching piece 12 being of plastic fabric. Pieces 11 and 12 are generally contoured to have a narrow waisted portion 13 at the center flanked by two laterally enlarged portions or lobes 14. The edges 15 of the pieces 11 and 12 are joined together and sealed as seen in FIG. 2, except on one side of the central portion 13. FIG. 1 shows a side 13a indicating an opening to a pouch 16, in the central portion 13 for receiving a cake of soap. A plastic zipper 17 along both sides of edge 13a retains the soap in the pouch during use.

At the outer end of lobes 14, which are preferably generally diamond-shaped in plan, a pair of handles 18 are provided. The whole surface of plastic fabric 12 is covered with a close alternating pattern of bristles 19 and perforations 20. The pattern may be in rows disposed horizontally, vertically or diagonally.

It will become apparent that the angular disposition of lobes 14 are particularly suited to reach all parts of the upper and lower back by moving the article in a criss-cross manner. In this unique manner, soap is applied, cleansing and massage are obtained without awkward and often impossible manipulation of the hands and arms over and under the shoulders. The bulging soap pouch reaches the spine, an area barely contacted by devices known in the art. Soap is automatically applied first to one side of the back, and then by turning the appliance from left hand to right hand, soap is applied to the other side. The lobes will extend to the shoulders and the lower back thereby applying gentle cleansing while at the same time reaching the recessed spine areas. The invention is particularly suited as a back washer for a person who has arthritis or short arms and also for obese people. The article when dry also serves as a back scratcher.

For general purposes, the article may be dimensioned as follows:

The soap pouch three and one-half inches by tive and one-half inches, the arch in the pouch reaching out about one inch at the highest point; the lobes six inches at their widest and six inches in length; the bristles, spaced one quarter inch, one half inch deep at the lobes and three quarter inches deep at the soap pouch. The plastic is lightweight and flexible with the soap pouch area slightly firmer to retain its shape. The handles may also be firmer for a better grip.

What I claim is:

l. A bathing accessory for the back or the like, comprising a generally elongated, flexible body having a pair of longitudinally spaced, laterally enlarged portions and a narrower, central portion connecting said laterally enlarged portions, said body including two superposed layers of porous material joined together along their peripheral edges except for a portion along one edge of said central portion, one of said layers being of a plastic fabric having a plurality of perforations therein to render the same porous, said plastic fabric layer also having a plurality of outwardly extending bristles on the outer surface thereof arranged in an alternating pattern with said perforations, said body also having handle means at the opposite ends thereof to facilitate manipulation of said accessory over the body of a user, and said central portion having a pocket therein adapted to receive a bar of soap or the like, said unjoined portion being closed by a separable closure providing access to said pocket and said laterally enlarged portions providing increased surface areas for scrubbing the users body and applying soap thereto supplied from said pocket.

2. The bathing accessory of claim 1, in which the bristles on the central portion of said plastic fabric are longer than the bristles on the laterally enlarged portions.

3. The bathing accessory of claim 2, in which the layers of material of said body at said central portion are bulged outwardly with respect to the outer surfaces of said laterally enlarged portions, the outwardly bulged central portion of said body and the longer length bristles thereon assuring contact with and cleansing of concave areas of the users body.

4. The bathing accessory of claim 1, in which the other of the layers of material of said body is a sponge fabric.

5. A bathing accessory for the back or the like, comprising a generally elongated, flexible body having a narrow-waisted central portion flanked by a pair of laterally enlarged portions, said laterally enlarged portions being generally diamond-shaped in plan, said body including two superposed layers of porous material, one of said layers being a plastic fabric having a plurality of perforations therein to render the same porous, said plastic fabric layer also having a plurality of outwardly extending bristles on the outer surface thereof arranged in an alternating pattern with said perforations, said body also having handle means at the opposite ends thereof to facilitate manipulation of said accessory over the body of a user, and said laterally enlarged portions providing increased surface areas for scrubbing the users body. 

1. A bathing accessory for the back or the like, comprising a generally elongated, flexible body having a pair of longitudinally spaced, laterally enlarged portions and a narrower, central portion connecting said laterally enlarged portions, said body including two superposed layers of porous material joined together along their peripheral edges except for a portion along one edge of said central portion, one of said layers being of a plastic fabric having a plurality of perforations therein to render the same porous, said plastic fabric layer also having a plurality of outwardly extending bristles on the outer surface thereof arranged in an alternating pattern with said perforations, said body also having handle means at the opposite ends thereof to facilitate manipulation of said accessory over the body of a user, and said central portion having a pocket therein adapted to receive a bar of soap or the like, said unjoined portion being closed by a separable closure providing access to said pocket and said laterally enlarged portions providing increased surface areas for scrubbing the user''s body and applying soap thereto supplied from said pocket.
 2. The bathing accessory of claim 1, in which the bristles on the central portion of said plastic fabric are longer than the bristles on the laterally enlarged portions.
 3. The bathing accessory of claim 2, in which the layers of material of said body at said central portion are bulged outwardly with respect to the outer surfaces of said laterally enlarged portions, the outwardly bulged central portion of said body and the longer length bristles thereon assuring contact with and cleansing of concave areas of the user''s body.
 4. The bathing accessory of claim 1, in which the other of the layers of material of said body is a sponge fabric.
 5. A bathing accessory for the back or the like, comprising a generally elongated, flexible body having a narrow-waisted central portion flanked by a pair of laterally enlarged portions, said laterally enlarged portions being generally diamond-shaped in plan, said body including two superposed layers of porous material, one of said layers being a plastic fabric having a plurality of perforations therein to render the same porous, said plastic fabric layer also having a plurality of outwardly extending bristles on the outer surface thereof arranged in an alternating pattern with said perforations, said body also having handle means at the opposite ends thereof to facilitate manipulation of said accessory over the body of a user, and said laterally enlarged portions providing increased surface areAs for scrubbing the user''s body. 